MARDAN, May 17 (APP): The Federal Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik Sunday made it crystal clear that operation against militants will continue till complete flushing out of the last miscreant from the restive Swat district and asked Taliban to lay down arms or prepare themselves for dire consequences. “The operation in Swat and other restive areas of Malakand Division is moving in the right direction and is in accordance with a set plan. If Taliban wants to serve Islam and work for the betterment of Pakistan, I ask them to lay down arms. This time I mean business,” Rehman Malik told a news conference after visiting relief camps in Mardan district here.

He said that writ of government would be established at all costs. He said that Taliban and young recruits of militants are in the run.

He said that Dir and Buner districts are under the complete control of the security forces and IDPs from these districts can go back to their homes. He said that scores of displaced families have left the camps and have gone to their homes in Buner.

“The area up to Khwazakhela Tehsil in Swat has been secured totally and the families affected due to insurgency and militancy can go to their homes there.” He said that full protection would be given to the IDPs who are willing to go to their homes in the cleared areas.

Transport facilities would also be provided to IDPs who are willing to return to their homes, he added.

The Interior Minister said that fighting between security forces and Taliban continued in some troubled pockets and it would be cleared from the militants very soon.

“The displaced people have expressed their desire of returning to their homes when he met with them in camps.”

He paid rich tributes to the valiant and gallant soldiers who are fighting against militants and Taliban in Swat to protect the people of Malakand Division from the enemy.

Rehman Malik said that special support group headed by Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed who has a vast experience of rehabilitation and relief management, shown by him in October 8, 2005 earthquake, has been formed with an objective to closely work and coordinate between various stakeholders to ensure quick rehabilitation of the displaced people and to find out speedy solutions of the loopholes during the relief and rehabilitation process.

The Minister directed the concerned authorities to device a comprehensive structural plan where all the major facilities like entertainment, big TV screen, mosque, playground and utility store are available in premises of IDPs camps.

He said that anti‑state elements are using Taliban for fulfillment of their nefarious agenda and expressed the strong determination and resolve of the government to foil all such evil designs and conspiracies with strong support of people.  He asked the Taliban to tell people that from where they are obtaining the lethal weaponry, expensive vehicles and huge amounts.

The killing of innocent peoples, attacks on the security forces, kidnapping of government officials, giving toys bomb in the  hands of innocent children and suicide bombings on behest of some anti‑state elements are in fact attack on the country’s sovereignty and against the spirit of Islam, he remarked.

The operation against militants in Swat and Buner districts were launched when the militants violated peace agreement two times including Nizam‑e‑Adl peace agreement, adding that 39 major violations on the part of militants were reported after announcement of Nizam‑e‑Adl regulations 2009.

The Interior Minister said that no justification was left with the Taliban to raise arms after establishment of Darul Qaza. He said that Government had signed the agreement regarding Adl regulations with sincerity despite facing criticism from various quarters but the government’s good gesture was misunderstood.

Subsequently, he said the government was forced to launch operation against the violators of agreements, saying that Taliban are not only the enemy of Pakistan but also the enemy of Islam. The Interior Minister said that Taliban were collecting arms for the last eight years.

He said that no option was left with the government but to launch an action against militants to curb militancy in the restive areas of Swat and some parts of Buner and Dir districts.

He said that criticism for the sake of criticism should be avoided and asked the opposition leaders to tell him about the other options, if they can think which can bring durable peace in the turbulent valley.

The Interior Minister said that special directives have been issued to avoid collateral damage. “But if a missile is fired from a house, the security forces will definitely target it in self defense,” he remarked.

He said some important militants commanders were killed in the operation in Swat and Buner.

He appealed to the residents of Mingora, Swat and its adjoining areas to come out from their homes during curfew relaxation hours for safety purposes. He rejected a news report of foreign media that 38 percent areas of NWFP are under the control of Taliban and termed the report as baseless.

He said that the people stood against Taliban and they are on the run. He said that Swat would be made again the cradle of peace and a hub of tourism.

Rehman Malik said that it is the responsibility of all segments of the society and political leadership to demonstrate unity against the menace of extremism and militancy, which is weakening the very social fabric of the society. He said that the present government has inherited the current difficult situation from the wrong polices of the dictatorial regime that will take some time to correct the cancer of militancy and extremism.

Soon after coming into power, the Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani announced the 3D polices that resultantly brought peace to FATA, he said. When the enemy of Pakistan saw that peace has returned fast to FATA, they diverted their attention to Swat to destabilize Pakistan for accomplishment of their evil designs, he added.

He said that Pakistan is a strong country and a nuclear power. “The Pakistan’s nuclear arsenals are in safe hands and no body should worry about it,” said the Interior Minister.

Rehman Malik said that a meeting of All Parties Conference has been convened to take the politicians and people on board about the current situation. He said that the PPP led government has taken all the decision with consultation and large interests of the country and people.

The Interior Minister said that Pakistan’s government and Afghan government is in close touch to fight the common enemy.  He said that Pakistan’s interests would be protected at all costs and no body and state would be allowed to use its soil against Pakistan.

He paid rich tributes to Chief Minister NWFP, Home Secretary, Commissioners, DCOs, law enforcement personnels and all those who showed exemplary courage in fighting against insurgency and militancy and worked day in night to make the livings of large number of IDPs in relief camps comfortable.

Rehman Malik said that Prime Minister has announced Rs.1.5 billion while the President of France during his meeting with President Zardari has pledged 12 million Euros for rehabilitation of the displaced families of militancy hit Swat, Buner and Dir districts of Malkand Division.

He urged the philanthropists and world donor agencies to come forward and generously contribute for rehabilitation of the displaced people. He said that electric fans and water coolers are urgently required in camps to beat the heat.

The Interior Minister said that security around the camps has been tightened and police and Frontier Constabulary troops have been deployed to avoid any mishap.

He said that intelligence network has been strengthened to minimize the chances of entry of militants in disguise of IDPs to relief camps.

He said that Federal Government is closely working with NWFP government to tackle this humanitarian crisis effectively adding that the federal government will fulfill all the requirements of IDPs.